Loose-leaf and container



May 14, 1929. J. R. TOMLIN LOOSE LEAF AND CONTAINER Filed Aug. 20, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 14, 19294 J. R. TOMLIN LOQSE LEAF AND CONTAINER Filed Aug. 20 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 14, 1929,

J. R. TOMLIN I 1,712,530 LOOSE LEAF AND CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 20. 1921 VE/V TOR 4 14, 1929- J. R. TOMLIN 1,712,530

LOOSE AND CONTAINER Filed; Aug. 20. 1921 4 Sheef s-Sfiet 4 Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN R. TOMLIN, 0F ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

LOOSE-LEAF AND CONTAINER.

Application filed August 20, 1921. Serial No. 493,785.

This invention relates to a container and more particularly to a container adapted to form a leaf of a loose leaf book for receiving stamps, cards, documents and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a loose leaf comprising a foldable container which may be readily unfolded to open position to afford convenient access to the contents of the container, and which may be quickly and conveniently folded to closed position.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide a loose leaf comprising a container having its components reinforced in such manner that the reinforcements facilitate the ready folding and unfolding of the device, and certain portions of the reinforcements adapted to cooperate with certain components of the usual loose leaf book to provide a lock for the open end of the container.

It is also an object of this invention to provide means for holding or locking the container in its open position, and to provide novel means for detachably securing a label or index card to the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a foldable container of generally improved construction, whereby the device will. be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, racti cal, serviceable and ellicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combii'iation and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise en'ibodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred, embodiments in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the container in its folded position and secured within a loose leaf book;

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the container in its unfolded position;

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken througl'i the container in its folded position, and showing its open position in broken lines;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the closed or outer end of the container;

Figure 6 a plan view of the blank from which the body of the container is formed;

F igure 7 is a plan of the stop member blank;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a modified container in its folded position and secured within a loose leaf book;

Figure 9 is a similar view but showing the container in its open position;

Figure 10 is a central longitudinal sect-ional View taken through the modified container in its folded position, and showing its open position in dotted lines;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line lll1 of Figure 10, re mote parts being omitted; V

Figure 12 is an elevation of the closed or outer end of the modified container;

Figure 18 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken through the manipulating tab and label-securing member;

Figure 14. is a fragmental perspective view showing the stop member in its open position; and

Figure l5 is a plan view of the blank from which the body of the modified container is formed.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a foldable container comprising a back 10, side flaps or wings 11, and a tongue 12, which tongue has a reinforced manipulating and locking tab 13 formed at the free end thereof. The body of the container formed of relatively thin material such as paper or cloth, and preferably glazed paper or cloth, which is more sl'iecitically known as wax paper or tracing cloth. A glazed material is only necessary when the device is em ployed as a stamp container, but when used for a document or card holder it may be formed from any strong sheet of paper.

The body is preferably formed of a. single piece of material, as shown in Figure 6, which comprises the rectangular back 10 for a pocket that is formed by folding the wings 11 over the back 10 along the dotted lines 14, and by folding the tongue 12 over the back 10 along the dotted line 15. By this arrangement the wings 11 form a closure for the longitudinal edges of the conpositions so that the inner and outer por trons of the tab 13 are normally disposed .at an obtuse angle to each other, thereby normally disposing the free end of this -tab at an acute angle to the back when the container is in its unfolded position, as shown in. Figure 3, so that the free end of the tab 13 may be conveniently gripped.

The base of the tongue 12 is of less transverse dimension that the back 10 to define laterally projecting cars 19 on each wing. Before bending the wings 11 upon the body 10 the'outer transverse terminals of 7 these Wings are folded upon the wings along the dotted lines 20, and when the wings are folded upon" the back 10 the ears 19 overlie the back. The free ends of a stop strip 21 are inserted between the main portion of the Wings 11 and the overlying reinforcing portions 22 where these members are glued or otherwise secured together, andthe car 19 of each wing 11 is glued to the back 10 when the wings are in their folded positions, so that the wings 11 will normally be constrained in a folded position relative to the back 10. Each terminal of the stop strip 21 extends approximately throughout the entire width of each wing 11, thereby cooperating with the reinforcing portion 22 to further reinforce the outer transverse terminal of the wing. This stop strip 21 is folded between the wings 11 and the back 10' of the container, and it is folded or creased at the points 23 and 24 in order to readily fold to a compact closed position and to assist in moving the wing to folded position. If desired, the back 10 is glued or otherwise secured to a reinforcing member 25, and a port-ion of the back is extended outwardly beyond the wings and bent over the inner edge of the reinforcing member 25, and is secured to the opposed side of the reinforcing member 25 as shown at 26. Apertures 27 are punched through the back 10 and reinforcingmember 24- adjacent the inner edge thereof for the reception of the usual. binding rings of a loose leaf book.

It' will be observed that the components of the container are so folded, rcinforcet and secured as to make their folded position their normal position, therefore the. container is only unfolded by moving these components against the tension occasioned by the inherent resiliency of the material fro nwhich the device is formed.

' In use, the container is secured in a loose leaf book by simply springing the securing rings 1t apart, in the well known manner, and placing these rings into the apertures 27. lVhen it is desired to open or unfold the container to gain access to its contents, the loose leaf book is opened, and then the upturned tab 13 ma be conveniently gripped, as shown in Figure 1, and pulled outwardly.

This action causes the tongue 12 to engage and move along the inclined edges 28 f the wings and. gradually unfold the wings to open position. \Vhen the container is entirely unfolded, the tongue 12 engages the stop strip 21 which limits the outward movement of the tongue and in this position the tongue 12 holds the wings in their open position, as shown in Figure 2.

Now the contents of the container are readily accessible, and when it is desired to close the container, the tongue is pushed inwardly, as shown in Figure 2. As the tongue 12 moves inwardly the wings- 11 automatically close, and when the tongue 12 again engages the inclined edges 28 of the wings 11 at points adjacent the back 10 these wings begin to overlie and press inwardly against the tongue, thereby quickly moving the container to folded or closed position.

lVhen the container has been folded and the loose leaf book is closed, the back or adjacent leaf of the book engages the free upturned terminal of the reinforced tab 13, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, and presses the tab 13 inwardly against its normal outward tension. This action causes the apex portion of the angular tab 13 to press inwardly against the back 10, as indicated by the arrow A in Figure 3, and form a look across the open end of the container to prevent any of the contents of the container from working out".

In Figure 8 a modified container is shown and is adapted to be used in a loose leaf book or binder, and comprises a back 30, wings or closures 31 and a tongue or closure 32, which has a reinforced manipulating and locking tab formed at the free end thereof. The body is preferably formed of a single piece of material and comprises the rectangular back 30 for a pocket formed by folding the wings 31 upon the back 30 along the dotted lines 34, and by folding the tongue 32 upon the back 30 along the dotted line 35 as shown in Figure 15. The free cud of the tongue 32 is folded upon itself at the points 36 and 37 thereby forming a reinforced portion of three thicknesses and this reinforced portion is bent or folded at the point 38 lo define the upstanding manipulating tab 33 and inwardly extending reinforced portion which has two thicknesses overlying the outer portion of the tongue to cooperate with the tongue to thereby provide a label or card holding member 39. The thicknessesor. plys of the tab 33 and label-holding member 39 are glued together in their folded position so that the manipulating tab 33 is normally constrained in an upstanding position, but an unglued area 40, shown in Figure 8, is left between the label-holding member 39 and the tongue 32 to provide ,a pocket 41 into which label or card 42 may be readily inserted and securely held. The label or card 42 may be inscribed with any suitable data to indicate the contents of the container and this label or card maybe conveniently inserted and removed at Will.

The base of the tongue 32 is of less transverse dimension than the back 30 in orderto define securing ears 43 and segmental stop members or webs 44 are positioned between the base ends of the wings 31 andthe ears 43, and these stop members are formed by bending the blank along the lines 45 and 46. The intermediate portion ofthe stopwebs 44 are folded along the lines 47 so that when the wings 31 are folded upon the tongue 32, the stop members 44 are folded inwardly between the wings 31 and the tongue 32. A reinforcing member 48 of the same dimensions as the back 30 is provided and the back 30is glued or otherwise secured to this reinforcing member, and a portion of the back 30 is extended beyond the outer terminals of the wing, as indicatedat 49. The portion 49 is bent over the edge of the reinforcing member 48, along the line 50, and is glued or otherwise secured to the reverse side of this reinforcing member, as shown at 51, and this doubly reinforced portion has spaced apertures 52 formed therein for the reception of the usual binding rings R of a loose leaf book. Each ear .43 is glued or otherwise secured to the reverse side of the reinforcing member 48, so that the outward movement of the tongue 32 is positively limited by the foldable stop member or web 44. In order to hold the tongue in its open or unfolded position, the outer edges of the wings 31 are inwardly out adjacent the stop member 44, as shown at 53, to define projections 54 which cooperate with the lateral edges of the tongue 32 to lock it in its open position.

This container is adapted for use in loose leaf books and binders of the larger sizes, and when the book is used an account or record book, the container may hold all pamphlet or loose data that relates to the fixed data written within the book, thereby obviating the necessity of resorting to dis taut file cabinets and desk draws when it is desired to examine the loose data such as contracts, bills, statements, cards, letters, notes and the like. Since a label or index card may be detachably secured to the tongue of the container, it is not necessary to write upon the container, but instead, the

nature of the contents of the container may be written upon the label and the label conveniently slipped under the label holder 39, thereby securing the label to the container. The container may be readily unfolded by simply moving the tongue 32 outwardly, and this outward movement is limited by the foldable stop member 44. In this open position, the wings 31 are held by the tongue 32, and since the wings 31 are normally constrained to their closed position, the inclined edges 53 of the projection 54 press against the lateral edges of the tongue 32 and lock this tongue in its open position, so that both hands of the user may be free to handle and assort the contents of the container while the container remains in wide open position. When it is desired to close the container the tongue 32 is moved inwardly and the entire container collapses to folded position, and in doing so, the foldable stop members or webs 44 fold inwardly between the wings 31 and the tongue 32, thereby allowing the device to fold to flat compact position, and when the book is closed uponthe folded container, the adjacent portion of the book presses against the reinforced manipulating tab 33 and causes its apex portion 38 to lock the contents within the container.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A book leaf consisting of a foldable container which is normally constrained to its folded position, and means embodied in the container for holding it in its unfolded position. 7 a

2. A book leaf consisting of a container having foldable closures, a manipulating tab carried by one of the closures and normally disposed at an angle to the body of the container to provide an upstanding gripping portion.

A book leaf including a container having foldable closures, the free terminal of one of the closures being folded upon itself to provide a reinforced manipulating tab which is normally disposed at an angle to the body of the container to cooperate with theadjacent leaf when said book is closed to thereby form a lock for the container.

4. A book leaf consisting of a foldable container which is normally constrained to its folded position, and means embodied in the container for aiding its unfolding.

5. A book leaf including a foldable container which is normally constrained to its folded position, means embodied in the container for unfolding and holding the container in its unfolded position.

6. A book leaf including a container. having foldable closures and foldable means co operating with the closures to'limit the unfolding movement of the said closures.

Cir

closure and to provide a pocket for detachably receiving a label or index card.

10. A book leaf including a container having foldableclosures, a foldable tongue forming a closure and arranged to cooperate With the said foldable closures to move these foldable closures to their unfolded position, and means for limiting the unfolding movement of the tongue to stop the tongue in a position to hold the foldable closures intheir unfolded position.

11. A book leaf including a container having a hinged tongue and closures foldable upon the tongue, the tongue and the closures having interengaging parts which coact to open the closures whenthe tongue is'movod .to an open position.

12. A book leaf including a container having a hinged tongue and closures'foldable upon the tongue, the tongue and the closures having interengaging parts which coact to open the'closures when the tongue is moved to an open position, and a foldable stop member for limiting the unfold- 7 ing movement of the tongue.

13. A book leaf including a container compr sing a lunged tongue and closures I normally constrained to 1 fold upon the tongue, said tongue constituting means for holding the closures in open position, the tongue and the closures having interengaging parts Which coact to impart a closing movement to the tongue from the closures after the tongue has been moved to a pre determined point between an open and closed position. Y

14. A book leaf including a container comprising a hingedly mounted tongue and hingedly mounted closures foldable upon the tongue, the closures having inclined edges wherewith the tongue coacts to effect "an opening of the Wings.

15. A book leaf-including a container comprising a hinged tongue and closures normally constrained to fold upon the 'tongue,said tongue constituting means for holding the closures in their open position, and means embodied in the closures for holding the tongue in its open position.

16. A book leaf including acontainer comprising a hinged tongue and closures normally constrained to fold upon the tongue, said tongue constituting means-for holding the closures in their open position, and projections formed on the closures to engage the tongue and hold the said tongue in its open position.

17. A book leaf including a container comprising a hinged tongue and closures normally constrained to fold upon the tongue, said tongue constituting means for holding the closures in their open position, and said closures having inwardly cut portions to-engage the opposed edges of the tongue and hold the said tongue in its open position.

18. A book leaf including a container comprising foldable closures certain of which are arranged to be moved to unfolded position by the unfolding movement of another one of the closures.

19. A book leaf including a container comprising foldable closures certain of which are arranged to be moved to unfolded position bythe unfolding movement of another one of the closures. said closures adapted to cooperate to hold themselves in unfolded position.

20. A book leaf including a container comprising foldable closures certain of which are'norinally in folded position and arranged to be moved to their unfolded position by the unfolding movement of another one of the closures.

' 21. A book leaf including a container comprising foldable closures certain of which are normally in folded position and arranged to be moved to unfolded )osition by the unfolding movement of another one of the closures, the closures adapted to cooperate to retain their unfolded position.

22. A book leaf including a container comprising foldable closures which are normally in folded position and certain of which are arranged to be moved to their unfolded position by the unfolding movement of another one of the closures. said closures adapted to cooperate to hold themselves in unfolded position.

23. A book leaf including a container comprising foldable closures certain of which are arranged to he moved to unfolded position by the unfolding movement of another one of the closures, and means for limiting the unfolding movement of the closures.

24. A book leaf including a container comprising foldablc closures certain of which are arranged to be moved to unfolded position by the unfolding movement of another one of the closures, said closures adapted to cooperate to retain their unfolded position, and means for limiting the unfolding movement of the closures.

25. A book leaf including a container having a foldable closure, a manipulating tab carried by said closure and positioned to hold closure closed when engaged by another leaf in a closed book.

26. A book leaf including a container comprising foldable closures, and means carried by one of the closures for detachably securing a label to the closure.

27. A book leaf consisting of a foldahle container and means embodied in the container for holding it in unfolded position.

28. A book leaf consisting of a foldahlo container including a part adapted when unfolded to unfold other parts and to hold the container in its unfolded position.

29. A book leaf consisting of a container including foldahle closures, some of which are normally constrained to their folded position, said foldable closures being constructed to cooperate with each other to hold the closures in their unfolded position.

30. A book leaf consisting of a container including foldable closures, some of which are normally constrained to their folded position, one of the foldahle closures arranged to cooperate withthe remaining closures to move the said closures to unfolded position as the first mentioned closure is moved to unfolded position.

31. A book leaf consisting of a container, including foldable closures, some of which are normally constrained to their folded position, one of the foldahle closures arranged to cooperate with the remaining closures to move the said closures to their unfolded position and to hold them in their unfolded ture.

JOHN R. TOMLIN.

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